Candidates have until Dec. 22 to collect 10,000 from across the state and another 400 from each congressional district.

“It’s not my impression they have to go through this type of process in other places,’’ Bolling said. “That’s why they have placed so many resources here.’’

In contrast, President Obama’s re-election has more than a dozen staffers in every region of the state, including Northern Virginia, some of whom have been here two years through Organizing for America.

“I think there’s starting to be a consensus that Mitt’s the most electable candidate,’’ Bolling said. “Some of these candidates have gone up and gone down. They’ve had this problem and they’ve had that problem. He’s very steady throughout the process.”Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, right, accompanied by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, left. (Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

He held a fundraiser last month at the McLean home of Bobbie Kilberg, a major Republican supporter who heads the Northern Virginia Technology Council. Kilberg said about 400 people attended the event, which raised more than $362,000 for Romney’s campaign.

Bolling said Romney was the first person to call and congratulate him Wednesday after it became clear that the elections gave Republicans a majority in the state Senate and Bolling a new elevated role.

“I think more and more people are going to realize Romney is probably going to be the nominee,’’ Bolling said. “It’s just some people take a little longer to warm up to the fact.’’

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